By: Isatou Sarr
Gamcotrap on Saturday distributed six milling machines to ex-circumcisers at Niumi Kanuma village as an alternative livelihood support.
The donation was made through the support from UNFPA and Donor Direct Action and the thinking behind the initiative is to provide ex-circumcisers with sustainable employment opportunities, steering them away from harmful traditionalpractices, according to anti-FGM advocacy group.
Dr. Isatou Touray, the Executive Director of GAMCOTRAP, said the gathering to celebrate the dropping of the knives is a truly significant milestone in their collective efforts to end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia and empower the ex-circumcisers to engage in alternative livelihood strategies to improve their economic situation.
“As you may all know, GAMCOTRAP has been engaged in advocacy across the region [North Bank Region] to educate, train and empower various target groups about the effect of FGM on women and girls. A lot of awareness and heightened knowledge has been acquired over the years leading to communities calling for a law to protect women and girls from FGM,’’ she stated.
She spoke about the “critical role” that ex-circumcisers play in the cultural and social fabric of their communities.
“They have the unique ability to lead change from within, helping to shift long-standing practices and social norms by raising awareness about the danger of FGM and other forms of sexual and gender base violence (SGBV). Empowering these women with alternative livelihoods not only secures their economic independence, but also ensures that they no longer feel the need to revert to practices that harm girls and women.’’
She described the distribution of the milling machines as atransformative step in the fight against FGM, one that aligns with the belief that true change must come from the community itself.
“We are not just launching hope, progress, empowerment, and the promise of a future where girls and women can live free from the harmful consequences of FGM. By offering ex-circumcisers a pathway to economic sustainability, we are reinforcing the abandonment of FGM, safeguarding the next generation, and nurturing a culture of respect and protection for all,’’ underlinedDr. Touray.
Alh. Yaya Jarjusey, the Chief of Jarra West District, said ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by empowering ex-circumcisers will protect women and girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR).
“The 2015 law that protects women and girls from FGM,achieved through years of advocacy and community awareness, recognize recent challenges and threats to those laws and affirmed GAMCOTRAP’s commitment to maintaining these protections,”stated chief Jarjusey.
He encouraged continued collaboration in the journey to empower Gambian women and girls, reiterating the broader mission of building a future free from FGM where women’s voices are heard and their rights are upheld.
